Manchester United may still be chasing silverware in Europe via the Europa League, but Ruben Amorim isn’t buying the fairytale ending.
The United boss, who took over in November, believes that even if Manchester United wins the Europa League and secures Champions League qualification, it won’t fix the underlying issues that have plagued their season. In fact, he went as far as to say that “nothing is going to save our season.”
Speaking ahead of United’s Europa League semi-final clash with Athletic Bilbao, Amorim laid it out with brutal honesty.
“Winning a trophy, getting in the Champions League to play European games next year could change a lot of things in our club in the summer,” he admitted.
“But Europa League will not change anything in our problems.”
That’s a pretty sobering admission from a manager whose team could still lift a European trophy. But it reflects the reality of United’s situation. They’re on course for one of their worst-ever Premier League finishes, and the atmosphere around Old Trafford has been anything but forgiving.
Amorim has had a rough ride since stepping in mid-season. Despite flashes of promise, inconsistency and lack of identity have haunted the club. He’s clear that a Europa League title might paper over cracks, but it won’t fill the structural holes.
“It’s going to give us Champions League next year, more money to spend, but the problems are still there,” he added. “We have to change the minds of our fans with consistency, good decisions, good recruitment, good academy.”
The message is clear: this isn’t a quick fix. Amorim wants more than short-term glory, he wants a cultural overhaul.
Today’s match against Athletic Bilbao will be no easy task either. The Spanish side has the best defensive record in La Liga, and United’s own scoring issues are well-documented.
“We are not scoring too many goals, so it’s going to be a tough match for us,” Amorim said.
“They use the crowd to take the game to a different level. We are prepared for that.”
So while the stakes are high on paper, a shot at a trophy, Champions League money, and a reputation-saving moment, Amorim isn’t letting anyone get carried away. For him, the real work starts after the final whistle, whether they win or not.
